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Vickers Heavy Machine Gun
LOT 425
British Vickers Heavy Machine Gun, Class III/NFA Fully Transferable Machine Gun, with Tripod and Accessories - Serial no. A1072, 303 cal., 30 inch round bbl., green/black finish, walnut grips. An evolution of the Maxim gun, the Vickers was a state of the art heavy machine gun during World War I, with the water cooling mechanism permitting a volume of sustained fire that can’t be matched by air-cooled single barrel weapons. Properly positioned and supplied, the Vickers could inflict hideous damage to an exposed or charging enemy, and a large number of casualties in World War I were due to these weapons. While later strategic developments would favor lighter, air-cooled guns as an organic part of the infantry unit, the Vickers still performed well during the inter-war period, being very well suited to fixed position defense and stationary operations. Blade front and folding ladder rear sights, with a muzzle booster device fitted to the “FTR/MA/54” marked steel water jacket, “303” marked sight staff and feed tray, and a Mark II sight bracket on the left side. British “broad arrow” proofs on multiple components, and a thumb trigger with “butterfly” safety. The right sideplate and the front trunnion are numbered “A1072”, with the sideplate showing no proofs or maker’s marks. A set of smooth spade grips are installed, with the tension mechanism on the left side of the receiver. Included with the lot is a green painted field mount tripod, canvas ammo belt, two tension springs, an extra 303 caliber barrel, a reprint of a 1917-era Vickers manual, and a copy of the July 1998 (Volume 1 Number 10) of Small Arms Review, which features an article on basic Vickers maintenance and handling. CONDITION: Fine as assembled, with 80% of the refinished green and black finish, showing some rust at the seam of the body and rear endcap of the water jacket, mild edge wear and light handling marks. The grips are very good with light wear, the tripod retains about half of the green paint finish, and the other accessories are good. Mechanically needs work. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.
Estimate: 13,000 - 19,000 367